Unattached screen clearer which can be rendered inoperative



Feb. 2, 1954 L. JOHNSON' ,56

UNATTACHED SCREEN CLEARER WHICH CAN BE RENDERED INOPERATIVE Filed March 7, 1951 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l l'mventor (Ittomegri Feb. 2, 1954 L. JOHNSON 2,667,972

UNATTACHED SCREEN CLEARER WHICH CAN BE RENDERED INOPERATIVE Filed March '7, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nven tor 9 3 laawdwhwm 5 ,232 3 B 57 J5 i7 7 62 Q4 63 (lttornegd Feb. 2, 1954 JOHNSON 2,667,972

UNATTACHED SCREEN CLEARER WHICH CAN BE RENDERED INOPERATIVE Filed March '7, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z5 4 2 37 ISmJentor (Ittornegd Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNATTACHED SCREEN CLEARER WHICH CAN BE RENDEBED IN OPERATIVE Leonard Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Hart-Carter Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application March 7, 1951, Serial No. 214,244

9 Claims. (01. 209-323) My invention relates generally to improvements in grain separating machinery and more specifically to separating mechanism employing oscillatory screens in the separating or cleaning of grain, v

More particularly, my invention relates to dockage testing equipment wherein a sample of grain from a selected quantity, such as a carload thereof, is tested to determine the percentage of foreign matter, such as seeds or grains of other types, etc., contained in said selected quantity.

An important object of my invention is the provision, in machines of the above type, of means for cleaning th separator screens between test runs in order to prevent grain from one tested quantity, which may lodge in the mesh of the separator screens or sieves, from carrying over into a second test run. To this end, I provide a plurality of resilient balls which are adapted to be impinged against the separator sieves in a manner to jar loose any particles which may be lodged in the sieves.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for confining said balls in the cups during the test runs and for releasing said balls for sieve-cleaning operationbetween said test runs.

Dockage testers are generally provided with receivers in the nature of pans or trays which receive material separated from the grain during different stages of separation. Another object of my invention is the provision of means for preventing insertion of one of said receivers into receiving position in the dockage testing machine when said cleaning balls are free for cleaning movement in the cups containing the same, whereby to guard against the possibility of a false or inaccurate test.

The above and still further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a dockage tester incorporating my invention, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, some parts removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse se tion taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view inside elevation, as seen from the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, as seen from the line 'I-'! of Fig. 2.

A preferred form of dockage tester is illustrated as comprising a frame structure I made up of laterally spaced frame members 2 and 3, a base member a, and supporting legs 5. A plurality of shakers are mounted for oscillatory movements in the frame structure I in vertically spaced relationship, the uppermost thereof being indicated by the numeral ii and adapted to receive grain or like material from a hopper or the like I mounted in the top portion of the frame I. The shaker 6 is conventional in nature and separates a portion of the material fed thereto, that portion of the material in passing over the shaker 6 being de livered to a receiving pan or tray 8 that is supported on a shelf 9 extending transversely of the frame structure I and suitably anchored at its opposite ends to the opposite side frame members 2 and 3. Material passing through the shaker 6 isdeposited on a second shaker, not shown, which delivers a portion of the material fed'thereto to a receiver I0 suitably mounted on a shelf I I similar to the shelf 9 and secured at its opposite ends to the opposite side frame members 2 and 3. The material passing through the second shaker, not shown, is delivered through a delivery chute I2 to the next lower shaker I3 from whence that portion of the grain which does not pass through the shaker I3 is delivered to a receiving tray I4 mounted on a shelf I5 identical in all respects to the shelf II and fastened to the frame structure in like manner. The grain which passes through the shaker I3 is delivered by means of a delivery chute IE to the lowermost shaker I? which is positioned to deliver larger particles of grain which do not pass through the shaker Ill to a receiving pan or tray I8 mounted on a shelf I9 identical to the shelves II and I5. The particles of grain passing through the shaker I l are deposited in a receiving pan or tray 28 resting on the base member 4 directly below a delivery spout 2i depending from the shaker H.

The shaker 6 and the second shaker, not shown, are oscillated by a conventional means, not shown, in the desireddirection to perform their normal functions. The lower shakers I3 and I! are in spaced parallel relationship and slope downwardly toward their respective receivers I4 and |8. Said shakers I3 and I! are mounted for common oscillatory movements in opposite dilevers being pivotally secured toibrackets zfi 011 the rear-ends Oftheishakers I 3 and H andthe forward ones of which are pivotally secured to bearing brackets 21 on the forward or delivery? ends of the shakers i3 and IT. The levers 25 are secured intermediate their ends'toih'emockshaft 22 for common movements therewith," saidmovements causing oscillation ofrthe shakers i3 and: I! in directions transversely'rofitheidirectionrof: feed of the material in said shakers.

Each of the shakers l3 and IT comprises shaker frames 28 having mountedthereinscre'ens or sieves 29 for the further separation of grain. Therlsieve's 29 are preferably made from sheet material and perforated: with 1 apertures .of desired size and spacing. Gscillrtory: movement imparted to the shakers lfi-and ll causessthei-material fed 5930118 two said shakers to movefldownwardlyundenthe actionpfflgr-avityf towardwtheirrespective receivers and l 3 the-smaller particles-.dropping=thr.ough the perforations in 'the'sieves ZBLthereof. Means for imparting :oscillatory movements -to. :the shakare l3 and I1 maybe ofany conventional type; one form thereof beingfully describedimmy co.- p'endingapplication Serial Number 214 2413,w filed of evendateherewith, andv entitled .Resilient Bumper stop' for Separator Screens? I Inasmuch as it is -necessary to the. accurate testing of grain samples toimaintain thesievesv29 of the'shakers l3 and 1-1 in-a clean-condition it is important that said sievesbe cleanedibetween each: testing operation. or. at; least if visualeinspectionof thescreensrshows grain lodging there- For the easy andrapid-removal of grains or othfl materialcaug-ht in-the sieves-29., I-pr0vide screen vibrating means -in the nature at resilient rubber-like ballsJ 30:each-. carried byma cup 3| in underlying spaced relatiomto thesievesZB;

With-particular reference to. Figs. 1, 2, and 4,l.it

wilLbe'seen-that eachofthe shakers L3 and I is provided-with a-singlerowot cups 3:1: extending-acr oss the :intermediate portionofits respectitre-shaker intermediate-the ends thereof andthat there are'preferahly a pluralityas shown :three in number, otsaidcupst'ttc eachof SZiClTSI-lflkBIS; The: cups 3! each. comprise v an arcuate vbottom wall 32., upwardly diverging .endwalls-3$ which are tangentialto the bottomrwall 3'2 andrside wall forming: elements 34; Alsmpreferably: and-:as shown-the side-walls Mextendsubstantially across thewidthof thesieves-Zii, one'pair of side walls being'common to all of the cupsassociated-with oneof saideshakersi lt -and- Hz The diverging endwalls are provided with flangesek thataare spot welded or otherwise/rigidly secured-to theside walls EL -the end. wal-lsdiverging. toward opposite-sides ofthe sieves Zap-whereby when the shakers l3 and H are oscillated, -.theresilient bal -ls hitwill lee-caused to roll upwardly :onthe diverging endwallet-3 and impinge against the nndersurface of the sieves 29 causing the same-to vibrate and jar loose any grainsthat may bev lodged in theperforations thereoil The arcuate'bottoms 32 of the several cups 3|. impart a rolling; motion t'ethe balls 30 so that when the balls MYstri-kethe sieves 29,the rolling action thereof will tend to-reduce' friction between the balls .30 .andsthe sieveszlresultingreduced wear uponitheiballs stand consequent longer life thereof; 'With.par-

4 ticular reference to Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6, it will be seen that the side walls 34, at their lower edge portion, are flared outwardly, as indicated at 36, to provide therebetween and the arcuate bottom walls 32 relatively large openings 31 for the free passage of grain therethrough. At their opposite ends thezside walls: 3!? are secured to the shakeri'frames 2'8: by brackets 34; With particular reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that 10'; the openings 31 are of considerable less width than the diameter of the balls 30 so that there --is no danger-ofitheballs 30 dropping through said opemngsBT: "The distance between the side walls .34:is such;thairther-ba'lls 30 are limited as to latreralamovementewithin the cups 3|.

:Irrrpracticeythe balls 30 are rendered inoperative duringthe testing of a selected quantity of grainthrough the machine. I, therefore, provide means=forrconfining the balls 30 to the bottoms of their respective cups, said means comprising a .stop,element?inetheinatureiof asstol Dlatafiil associated witl'iaeach shakerr l3, and; IT. Each stopplater38risprovidedvwith=a.-depending;flange ditto which is secured. one end ofa pain of: later ally spaced pins or the like 40 whichrextend throughsoppositecside wall forming; elements: 34, see Figs.'.4- 6, inclusive. Thestop; pins .40 1, are: slidablyt mounted. in; the: said wall elementseM whereby to .permit 's1iding.movements.-of :therstop: plates 3.8 into. and out of, overlying; 1*..e1acionshipv to theballsail- .Apairotspacedears ll-project outwardly from. thee-flan es;- 39 .and are, provided with-slots. lthroughwhich.extend the.- ofiset intermediate' portions of. cranks: 441 J'ournalledz inthe=shakerframes .-2 ofr-theshakers l3 and I].

Rigidly securedby welding-or-theliketo oneeendv of each otrthe cranks AZLiS, one of-iaipair of.- rela tively shortcranks-acting elements ditwhich are? pivotally. connectedto theoppositeends-ofiarigid adjustabledink. 46 extending? enerally\ vertically-- between theishakersfll-i and I1. E'L he rigidelinkat comprises a central element-chai ing upper:

andlower extension, elements '48:. and .119 "respectively, screw-threaded :thereinto: and having pivotal connections-withanaadiacent crank-acting element 4 5, asindicated'atiltand 5 I respectively.

A thrust ,rod 52, hasten lower angularly disposed end portioni53-pivotallyi securedto the intermediate portion of theilink element 41- and termi nates atn its; other end, inraneccentric 54 mounted. ona control shaf-tafiiicurna-lledadjacent its;

outer endziin a./-Jc.eari ngt.56v securedutoezthevsideframe .member- 3...U,Ati-ts opposite end; the-contrclsha'ft .55.- is-Jnurnalledi; a -pair of laterallyspaced depending lngs 51.--welded cr otherwiserigidlysecured .toithe shelf 9 at: itsacentral-nor tion. A manually operatedicomltol;knob E58: is rigidly secured .t-c. the shaft :;laterallyoutwardly of the side frametmemher, 3-, manipulation; of which will cause. movement of-ithegthrust rod 52 in directions tc'simultanecusly movesthe stop cream centage and types of foreign material contained in the grain. During the removal of the several receivers, the control knob 58 is manually posi tioned to permit the cleaning balls 30 to operate. When the control knob 58 is in its on position, that is, when the balls 3%] are free to impinge on the sieves 29, means now to be described are provided for preventing proper replacement of at least one of the receiving trays, namely the receiver 8, on its respective shelf. It will be noted, by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, that the several trays, when positioned on their respective shelves, are maintained in proper relationship to their respective shakers by means of holddown elements 59. The said hold-downs 59 are generally U-shaped and have their opposite ends journalled in upstanding bearing lugs 60 and are biased in a direction to engage the top marginal edges of the several receiving trays by torsion springs 61 (see Fig. 2). A barrier element in the nature of a generally U-shaped barrier rod 62 is secured at one end to a transversely extending trunnion or the like 63 that is journalled in the depending lugs 51. A torsion spring 64 yieldingly urges the barrier rod 62 in a direction to move the free end portion 65 thereof upwardly through an opening $6 in the shelf 9 and into the space normally occupied by the receiving tray 8. A cam 61 mounted fast on the control shaft 55 intermediate the depending bearing lugsil engages the barrier rod 62 to swing the same downwardly against yielding bias of the torsion spring 64 when the control knob 53 is moved to its off position, and to permit the barrier rod to be moved upwardly by the spring 64 when the control knob is moved to its on position. Thus, if the operator neglects to set the control knob 58 to its ball-confining off position, the receiver 8 is barred from being properly positioned on the shelf 9 by the upwardly extended end portion 65 of the barrier rod 62. This arrangement indicates to the operator that he should turn the control knob to off-position before testing another sample.

Dockage testers, including the above described improvements comprising my invention, have been tested on a commercial basis and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification Without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a shaker frame, a sieve, means mounting said sieve on said shaker frame, means for imparting oscillatory movements to said shaker frame and said sieve, a plurality of cups associated with said frame and underlying said sieve in spaced relation thereto, said cups each having an arcuate bottom and upwardly diverging end walls which are tangential to said bottom, resilient balls in said cups, side wall forming elements in said cups limiting lateral movement of said balls therein, and means on said shaker frame movable into overlying relationship to said cups to retain said balls in the bottoms of their respective cups.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means comprises a stop plate mounted for sliding movements into and out of overlying relationship to said cups, and in further combination with manually operated means for imparting said movements to the stop ture adjacent the delivery end of said other plate and including acr'ank journalled in said shaker frame.

' 3. In "a device of the class described, a frame structure, a plurality of shaker fr'ames in vertically spaced relationship, a sieve, means mounting said sieve on one of said shaker frames,'means mounting said shaker frames in said frame structure for oscillatory movements with respect thereto, means forimpartingoscillatory movements to said shaker frames'and said sieve, a receiver for material passing over the other of said shakers, said receiver being movable into and out of receiving position in said frame strucshaker, a plurality of cupsasso'ciated with said one of the shaker frames and underlying said sieve in spaced relation thereto, resilient balls in said cups, said balls being caused to impinge against said sieve responsive to oscillatory movements imparted thereto, means for confining said balls in the bottoms of their respective cups, said last-mentioned means comprising a stop element movable into and out of overlying relationship to said cups, manually operated mecha nism for moving said stop element into and out of overlying relationship to said cups, a barrier element mounted on said frame structure for movements into and out of the area normally occupied by said receiver, and linkage associated with said manually operated mechanism for imparting movements to said barrier in a direction away from said'area.

4. The str cture defined in claim '3 in which said barrier element is yieldingly biased in the direction of said area and in which said linkage comprises a cam associated with said manually operated mechanism and engageable with said barrier to move said barrier against the yielding bias imparted thereto.

5. The structure defined in claim 3 in which each of said cups comprises an arcuate bottom, upwardly diverging ends Walls tangential to said bottom, and side wall forming elements spaced apart from the arcuate bottom to provide for the free passage of material therethrough.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame structure, a plurality of shaker frames in vertically spaced relationship, a sieve, means mounting said sieve on the lower of said shaker frames, means mounting said shaker frames in said frame structure for oscillatory movements with respect thereto, a receiver for material passing over the upper of said shakers, said receiver being movable into and out of material-receiving position in said frame structure adjacent the delivery end of said upper shaker, a plurality of cups associated with the lower shaker frame and underlying said sieve in spaced relation thereto, said cups each having an arcuate bottom and upwardly diverging end walls which are tangential to said bottom, resilient balls in said cups, said balls being caused to impinge against said sieve responsive to oscillatory movements imparted thereto, means for confining said balls in the bottoms of their respective cups, said last-mentioned means comprising a stop element movable into and out of overlying relationship to said cups, manually operated mechanism for moving said stop element into and out of overlying relationship to said cups, a barrier element mounted on said frame structure for movements into and out of the area normally occupied by said receiver, and means associated with said manually operated mechanism for imparting eleme A. Am,- a plural womieves, h tin a ra vfis ne achvo o o m untin a d shaker. mm. tor qsc l a ory w th eagh of" a nn qizin sa d. ra

mqyable s multan ian manua y .op- 15 il wpfim n moyemants to a er fi amses in. Ye

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c ps: l mitin lateralmoveman f e' odies n, and mcanson saickshaksrirame.movab e nt owerlyin xel-afti nshipvtqsaid up to retain) said bodies, in theharkcuatq-boisrtoms of; said cup s.

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